Waymo Is Expanding to Miami: Everything to Know About the Growing Robotaxi Service
Self-driving cars are slowly becoming less dystopian and more real, and companies like this WaymoGoogle parent Alphabet’s self-driving unit is expanding into more cities. Now, Waymo is adding Miami to its roster, first bringing its all-electric Jaguar I-Pace fleet to the roads there in early 2025 before eventually opening it to passengers in 2026. Passengers will be able to pass Waymo One appis currently up and running in cities such as San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles.
Waymo will partner with Moove, a fintech company that provides vehicle financing, starting in Phoenix, where Moove will manage the robotaxi fleet operations, facilities and charging infrastructure. In Phoenix and Miami, “Waymo will continue to provide our services through the Waymo One app and remain responsible for the verification and operation of Waymo Drivers,” the company said in a statement Thursday. blog post.
In October, Waymo also announced Cooperation with Hyundai Motor Introducing next-generation technology Ionic 5 SUV. In the coming years, passengers will be able to use the Waymo One app to summon all-electric vehicles without a driver behind the wheel.
The self-driving technology company is no stranger to large-scale partnerships. Earlier this year, it said Team up Partnering with Uber to bring robotaxi service to Atlanta and Austin through the Uber app. Starting in 2025, Uber will manage and dispatch Waymo’s fully autonomous, all-electric fleet Jaguar I-Pace vehicles (which the company is currently using in other cities), so you can opt for a driverless ride when you embark on your journey.
Waymo currently offers fully self-driving services to the public in the San Francisco and Phoenix areas, as well as some in Los Angeles. The company said it offers more than 100,000 flights per week in these cities. I’ve been on a few rides myself in San Francisco, and while it seemed a little off-putting at first (especially seeing the steering wheel turn on its own), I quickly got used to it and it soon felt like a normal ride facility.
That’s not to say Waymo hasn’t encountered resistance as it rolls out to more cities. The company’s vehicles have been involved in several high-profile crashes, including with one of the cyclists San Francisco, and one in Phoenix with a towing pickup truck. (it recall and update its software In order to solve this problem. ) In response to concerns, Waymo said that over 14.8 million miles driven, its self-driving Waymo Driver technology was “3.5 times better than human drivers at avoiding crashes that resulted in injuries and 3.5 times better than human drivers at avoiding crashes that were reported by police. 2 times higher than a human driver” SF and Phoenix. ” It also released a data center Earlier this month, it detailed its efforts to use its technology to improve road safety.
As Waymo continues to expand and develop its self-driving technology, here’s a guide on how and where to summon robotaxis if you happen to be in one of the few cities where the company currently operates its fleet.
Look at this: Testing Waymo’s safe exit feature in self-driving taxis
Ride in Phoenix
Phoenix is first city The fully autonomous Waymo ride-hailing service is planned to be available to the public in 2020. To request a ride, download Waymo One Application opens iOS system or Android.– No waiting list required. The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
As a teaser of things to come in Austin and Atlanta, you can also Using the Uber app Summon one of Waymo’s vehicles in Phoenix. When you request an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric ride, you can choose to confirm a Waymo ride if you match.
also Call a cabyou may also have your Uber Eats delivers food from self-driving cars. When placing an order in the Phoenix area, you may receive a notification that “self-driving vehicles may deliver your order.” When a Waymo car arrives, bring your phone to open the trunk and pick up your vehicle. If you would like your food to be delivered, you can opt out at checkout.
Hitchhiking in San Francisco
Following Phoenix, San Francisco has also followed suit and launched Fully autonomous driving will be achieved by the end of 2022. it Waiting list canceled June, so now, anyone can simply download the Waymo One app and ride anytime. The service also operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are currently no Uber partners in San Francisco.
August, Waymo Expand its ride-hailing service Enter the San Francisco Peninsula, add 10 square miles, and venture into Daly City, Broadmoor, and Colma. Currently, the company’s operations cover 55 square miles in the Bay Area.
Hitchhiking in Los Angeles
In November, Waymo eliminated waitlists in Los Angeles and began All public riders welcome Via the Waymo One app. Now, any interested passenger can hop on a robotaxi 24/7 and take a ride virtually 80 square miles Los Angeles County, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and downtown Los Angeles, with plans to expand to more areas soon.
Coming soon: Austin and Atlanta
after more than a year test In Austin, Waymo opened its rides to interested parties in early October. The company says it will welcome a “limited number of early riders” by Waymo One app and then transition to the Uber app next year.
Waymo said: “We are preparing for a commercial launch early next year, with riders traveling across the city’s 37 square miles — only on the Uber app.” Posted on X.
The partnership with Uber will make self-driving services more accessible to more people. “Waymo’s mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver, and we’re excited to partner with Uber on this expanded network and operations in Austin and Atlanta,” Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said in a statement in September. relationship to deliver the following benefits: Fully autonomous driving for more passengers.”
As part of the partnership, Uber will manage tasks such as vehicle cleaning and repairs, while “Waymo will continue to be responsible for the testing and operations of Waymo Driver, including roadside assistance and certain passenger support features,” the companies said.
Starting in early 2025, public passengers in Atlanta will be able to take self-driving rides through the Uber app.
The public in Austin and Atlanta can join interest list And get notified when it’s time to ride.
the road ahead
Miami is the next destination on Waymo’s list, but you’ll have to wait until 2026 to ride there, the company said. it has Conduct a weather test Prior to this launch, it was noted that blog post”, “Our previous road trips to the Sunshine State’s challenging rainy conditions were invaluable in improving our self-driving capabilities. “
In August, Waymo launched sixth generation Its self-driving technology is designed to expand the capabilities of its driverless fleet. Waymo says smarter sensors will help cars navigate better in extreme weather. The sixth-generation Driver will be equipped with an all-electric model Zekel Vehicleswhich features a flat floor, more head and leg room, adjustable seats and a removable steering wheel and pedals. The updated technology is still being tested and the company says it will be available to passengers soon.
In October, Waymo also announced Cooperation with Hyundai Motor Integrating its sixth-generation Driver into the all-electric Ioniq 5 SUV, the vehicle “will be added to the Waymo One fleet over time,” according to a blog post. The companies added that they “plan to mass-produce a fleet of Ioniq 5 vehicles equipped with Waymo technology over the next few years to support Waymo One’s growing scale.” Testing of the vehicles will begin in late 2025 and continue “over the next several years.” Put into use.
Currently, everyday riders can’t ride in Waymo vehicles on the highway, but that may soon change. The company is testing fully autonomous driving freeway in phoenixas in Exclusive video shared with CNET in May.
Waymo is also working to expand its self-driving technology into trucking, but the company said last year it was scale back these efforts For now, we’ll focus on Waymo One’s ride-hailing service. It noted, “Our continued investment in improving Waymo Driver’s capabilities, especially on highways, will directly translate into trucking and benefit its development efforts.”
